France, July 27th 1918

My Dear Mother:-

Was much pleased today to receive your letter of July 4th in today's mail which also brought me three bundles of papers from mail. They kept me busy reading 'till nearly three o'clock when I fell asleep and slept 'till nearly five o'clock, time for the evening meal. My how busy you all are, with your housework and garden. Dad with his council work and the farm duties and Nellie and Charlie with so many tasks to perform every day. The war has certainly put the shirker and non-worker into unenviable positions. I am much obliged to Dad for helping me. I have received civilian recommendations from Mr.Carrothers and from Mr. Newth, the chairman of the school board at Lipton. They both certainly sent me nice letters. I guess I have told you before that practically all my personal effects are in charge of Mr. Newth and if anything does happen to me you can secure everything from him, my trunk, travelling bags, library and books. They are certainly a fine family, and Mr. Newth is a very public-spirited citizen. One of their daughters teaches school near Lipton and their two boys one of whom was a teller in the bank and the other store clerk are now farming. Both were graded C, and cannot get into the army.

We have been having more wet weather lately. It rained practically all day today. This must be France's rainy period. I seldom get out of camp these days. I have been kept quite busy lately in the evenings playing ball, writing letters and for the past few nights I have been trying to recall some mathematics and helping one of the fellows who is trying for a commission shortly. About one more year and I will be ready to start my school course over again, myself.

Reid and Storrey are both well. I see them much oftener now that we live in the same hut. MacCormac in a letter the other day says he must go back to Canada. We miss Mac in our little family group here. He was a very nice fellow and a good conscientious worker.

I see by the Belmont paper that Murray Kirk is now a soldier. Fred Carrothers was doing fine in his last letter. I suppose Urban will be over here in a short time now as the Infantry are not kept in England for a very long period.

There is nothing much to write about these days. We are liable to move at any time. Will write more again soon. With very best wishes and love from

Yours

Frank